About the Author

Stephen Coonts logged 305 arrested carrier landings, over 100 of them at night, during his Vietnam tour. A native of West Virginia and former Denver attorney, he now lives and writes in Las Vegas. Jake Grafton stars once again in his latest novel The Traitor.

Date of Birth:

July 19, 1946

Place of Birth:

Morgantown, West Virginia

Education:

B.A., West Virginia University, 1968; J.D., University of Colorado, 1979

Editorial Reviews

With this well-crafted first novel, the publishers of The Hunt for Red October again demonstrate a sure eye for picking winners in the thriller genre. Jake Grafton is an A-6 Intruder pilot during the Vietnam War who flies his bomber on sorties past enemy flak and SAM missiles, and then must maneuver his plane, often at night, onto the relatively small deck of an aircraft carrier. Former Navy flyer Coonts gives an excellent sense of the complexities of modern air raids and how nerve-wracking it is, even for the best airmen, to technically solve sudden problems over and over, knowing that even a twist of fatea peasant wildly firing a rifle from a fieldcould wipe out the crew. Grafton alternates between remorse over the fate of his unseen Vietnamese victims on the ground and a gung-ho ``let's win this war'' sentiment that lashes at both policymakers who select less-than-important targets for the dangerous missions and advocates for peace back in the States. The action, though, is realistically detailed and absorbing.

Publishers Weekly - Publisher's Weekly

“[Coonts's] gripping, first-person narration of aerial combat is the best I've ever read. Once begun, this book cannot be laid aside.” ? The Wall Street Journal

“Coont's pilots are the real McCoy and his compassion for them sustains his story from first page to last . . . a sometimes exhilarating, often nightmarish tale.” ? Kirkus Reviews

“A winner.” ? Philadelphia Inquirer

“Kept me strapped in the cockpit of the author's imagination for a down-and-dirty novel.” ? St. Louis Post-Dispatch

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

Flight of the Intruder (Jake Grafton Series #1) 3.7 out of 5based on
0 ratings.
44 reviews.

Anonymous

More than 1 year ago

Reading the 24 page sample is difficult because of so many transcription errors, as some others have pointed out in their reviews. However, when you purchase the full e-book, those errors are gone and it is a thoroughly enjoyable read.
Don't be put off by the sample or those reviews based on reading the sample. Enjoy.

Guest

More than 1 year ago

As an Air Force F-4 fighter jock of the same era, I'm amazed at the accuracy and excitement of 'flying with' Jake Grafton over Vietnam. I just read the book and the one, main thing I got from it was it's accuracy. My wife has been after me for years trying me to get me tell her and the kids what it was like flying in Vietnam and I've just brushed off as 'doing business.' Now, I'm going to get her to read 'The Flight of the Intruder.' I don't think she'll understand but, it is all there - everything she has been wanting me to talk about for 40 years. It brings back a lot of memories - some good and some not so good. Wayne Erwin Colonel, USAF 'Retired'

Anonymous

More than 1 year ago

While I read the orginal bookon paper, I decided to re read it via my nook account. However, I had to give up. The nook version was plagued by errors to the point it was unreadable. Love the orginal print version, but this digital version just not up to B&N standards.

newwct

More than 1 year ago

His best book!

Anonymous

More than 1 year ago

Enjoyed every moment. Brings back my days of riding "Shotgun" on firstlight/last light missions during Desert Shield, Desert Storm.
Southern Gentleman of Leisure

Anonymous

More than 1 year ago

The flying, the combat circumstances, the Carrier, the whole works, just right. Coonts

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Read the sample....scanning mistakes everywhere. Save your money

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More than 1 year ago

Just tried the sample and couldn't get through the first 4 pages the errors were so bad. "Jake" is often replaced with "lake" and every "the" is "die" english version, hello. There are also countless other errors.